Shed fears about a snake being your backseat driver

Today’s question:

I am a snowbird who loves everything about Arizona except for all creatures capable of inflicting great harm.

Are rattlesnakes capable of slithering up a car and into an open window? Relax, treasured reader.

Please don’t let rattlesnakes or Gila monsters or poisonous spiders or deadly heat stroke or any of Arizona’s other hazards spoil your stay here in paradise.

Of course there are a lot more dangerous things around here than rattlesnakes, but let’s not fuss about them right now, either.

Yes, rattlesnakes are known to climb small shrubs or the lower limbs of trees. Some people say they can crawl up a block fence, although I am not 100 percent sure that is true.

Could a snake climb up the smooth side of a car?

I find that unlikely, but then I have learned from you people never to say never.

I probably shouldn’t tell you this because it sounds like you are already a bit paranoid, but it is possible for a snake to find an opening on the underside of car and perhaps make its way into the ventilation system.

This would not be good. It also is high unlikely, but it is not impossible.

But you can’t go around being afraid all the time.

Should you meet a snake while out hiking or elsewhere just back away slowly and let the snake be on its way. It probably doesn’t want any more to do with you than you with it.

Some research suggests the most likely victims of snake bite are males between the ages of 18 and 24 who have been drinking.

I have reported this before and have suggested if you are going into snake country you take a young male drunk along to protect yourself, but I suppose that really isn’t very practical.